American Specific Gold bank card assessment: Full particulars

Rewards playing cards aren’t assured to earn and hold their stripes, however the American Specific® Gold Card endures. Its shiny gold (or rose gold, when you choose) end suggests a card that gives enticing perks and interesting rewards charges.

The Amex Gold was the fourth bank card I added to my pockets, and it stays there as a result of it delivers precisely the extent of advantages you’d anticipate at first look. It is the most effective rewards playing cards at present out there, however like each different card in the marketplace, it is not for everybody.

Here is a breakdown of each function on this card, the way it performs its position in my pockets and why (or why not) it could be for you. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

Amex Gold: The fundamentals

The anatomy of the Amex Gold breaks down into two elements: assertion credit and Membership Rewards factors. This card has a $325 annual payment (see charges and costs), so it is vital to be sure to can recoup that worth via its advantages.

You possibly can rise up to $424 in worth annually out of your Amex Gold. Cardmembers will probably discover probably the most worth within the as much as $10 month-to-month Uber Money credit score for U.S. Uber and Uber Eats orders*, the as much as $10 month-to-month eating assertion credit score with choose companions and the as much as $50 biannual assertion credit score at U.S. Resy eating places. (Enrollment is required for choose advantages.)

Whereas the Amex Gold’s lack of lounge entry could also be disappointing given its price ticket, you may get entry to its spectacular roster of 20 switch companions. We at TPG suggest redeeming factors via switch companions to get most worth for them.

Incomes factors with this card is simple, significantly for folks like myself who take pleasure in eating out. The Amex Gold earns 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $50,000 and $25,000 in spending every calendar 12 months, respectively, then 1 level per greenback).

The Amex Gold is at its strongest within the palms of somebody who travels a minimum of a few occasions annually and spends lots of their price range on meals.

Amex Gold execs and cons

Amex Gold advantages

In contrast to its older sibling, the Amex Gold‘s advantages are comparatively simple to maintain observe of. By profiting from only a few assertion credit, it is best to be capable of get greater than the Gold’s annual payment in worth annually.

Assertion credit

With this card, you may obtain the next perks (enrollment required):

• As much as $10 month-to-month in Uber Money for U.S. Uber and Uber Eats orders (*Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account whenever you add the Amex Gold as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card)
• As much as $10 month-to-month in eating assertion credit with choose companions
• As much as $50 biannually in assertion credit for U.S. Resy purchases
• As much as $7 month-to-month for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases

As a foodie dwelling in a significant U.S. metropolis, I can simply use all these advantages besides the Dunkin’ assertion credit score since my metropolis does not have any places. Luckily, I can get round this with the Dunkin’ reloading hack.

In the event you aren’t the kind of particular person to make use of meals supply providers or Uber or exit to eating places a minimum of semifrequently, you may wrestle to get actual worth out of this card. If that sounds such as you, your essential supply of worth from this card will come from its incomes charges (extra on that later).

Which will or will not be sufficient to compensate for this card’s annual payment, relying on how a lot you spend every month in its bonus classes.

Resort profit

By reserving a minimal two-night stick with Amex’s The Resort Assortment, Amex Gold Card members obtain a $100 credit score towards eligible fees, resembling spa visits and eating. (Eligible fees differ by property.)

As a private tip, be certain that to at all times double-check {that a} service can be charged to your room earlier than swiping your card. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll not obtain a credit score towards that buy out of your Gold.

Whereas staying on the Moxy NYC Decrease East Facet, I made the error of assuming I might order by way of my desk’s QR code and request the meal be charged to my room. It seems that wasn’t an possibility, so I missed out on my credit score.

Different advantages

The Amex Gold additionally options a number of journey and buy protections.

And cardmembers can be charged no international transaction charges (see charges and costs), although remember that most of the Amex Gold’s perks are restricted to the U.S.

earn and use your rewards

Incomes and successfully utilizing Membership Rewards factors is a big a part of getting probably the most worth out of your Amex Gold. Due to its robust bonus classes for meals purchases, it has been considered one of my most used playing cards since I opened it.

Along with your Amex Gold, you may earn on the following charges:

• 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in spending every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
• 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in spending every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with airways or via amextravel.com
• 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go inns and different eligible journey booked via amextravel.com
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

As soon as you have amassed a large haul of factors, you’ve gotten a number of choices to redeem them. When you might use your factors for a press release credit score, bookings via Amex Journey, reward playing cards or amazon.com checkout, we do not suggest this. As a substitute, your finest guess is to switch them to considered one of Amex’s 20 switch companions.

I primarily use my Membership Rewards factors for flights since Amex does not companion with the lodge packages I have a tendency to make use of.

Air Canada Aeroplan is considered one of my favourite companions as a result of it has intensive award availability throughout each Air Canada and companion airways like United Airways. Final 12 months, I redeemed just below 30,000 factors whole via Aeroplan for 2 one-way flights between Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon and Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR) in British Columbia over Christmas. Whereas this did not internet me probably the most worth for my factors, it nonetheless saved me just a few hundred {dollars} that I might use towards meals and actions as an alternative.

Potential drawbacks to the Amex Gold

Whereas the Amex Gold is a unbelievable card, no bank card is ideal. The Amex Gold is not going to be very helpful within the palms of somebody who has a restricted grocery price range and orders out sometimes.

This card additionally will not be the most suitable choice for you if you have already got a card with a excessive incomes fee for groceries and eating, such because the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and costs).

Moreover, you may have a tough time justifying the Amex Gold’s annual payment if you must exit of your option to spend with the retailers coated by its assertion credit. I discover lots of worth in my Amex Gold’s Uber credit score and eating assertion credit. Nevertheless, their lack of flexibility means they will not work for everybody.

Bank cards should not be a headache to make use of. In the event you anticipate the Amex Gold to require lots of effort, take into account one other card.

Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum

The Amex Gold does not have a direct competitor from a significant issuer, so its closest rival is its premium counterpart, the American Specific Platinum Card®.

If lounge entry, lodge elite standing, excessive bonus-earning on flights and a wider array of assertion credit to select from sound up your alley, the Amex Platinum will most likely be a greater match for you than the Amex Gold.

In contrast, when you do not fly usually, spend most of your price range on meals or discover the Amex Gold’s assertion credit simpler to make use of, stick to the Gold. Moreover, the Amex Gold is a greater match when you’re ready the place paying the Amex Platinum’s $895 annual payment (see charges and costs) in a single billing cycle looks as if an excessive amount of of a stretch in your pockets.

In the event you’re all-in on Membership Rewards otherwise you suppose you may simply maximize the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum’s advantages, it could be value opening each playing cards.

When to use for the Amex Gold

At the moment, Amex Gold candidates can discover out their supply and see if they’re eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. (Welcome provides differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.)

In accordance with TPG’s January 2026 valuations, 100,000 Membership Rewards factors are value $2,000. The worth of your factors will depend on what you redeem them for, however it is a tough estimate of what this welcome supply might be value when you switch your factors to journey companions.

In the event you’re focused for any supply over 60,000 factors, it is positively value making use of; in any other case, it’s possible you’ll need to anticipate a greater supply.

Different playing cards to contemplate if you don’t need the Amex Gold

I already talked about the Amex Platinum as a possible different to the Amex Gold, but when that card does not really feel like the fitting alternative, listed here are just a few different choices:

Backside line

For many who can simply maximize its perks, the Amex Gold is value including to your pockets. In the fitting palms, its robust incomes classes, assertion credit and switch companions make it a strong card.

That stated, I usually do not suggest the Amex Gold to these new to bank cards or younger professionals simply beginning an entry-level job. Its $325 annual payment is nothing to shrug at, and its myriad advantages could also be overwhelming for somebody who has by no means had a rewards card earlier than.

In the event you really feel the Amex Gold’s advantages sound helpful in your pockets, I say go for it. In any other case, there are many different nice playing cards that earn effectively on eating and groceries.

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Apply right here: American Specific Gold Card

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For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, please click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, please click on right here.